Casperia and the undiscovered Sabine hills Take a photo tour of Casperia and the surrounding Sabina area Click on a photo to enlarge, or start the tour

60 km north of Rome, lies an undiscovered corner of northern Lazio, Sabina or the Sabine Hills, a fascinating territory, which perhaps more than any other area of central Italy, has preserved its original rural character. From here, the ancient Romans took their brides: ' The rape of the Sabine women'. Casperia a 1000 year old village lies in the heart of this beautiful area, perched on a rocky outcrop and bound by the remains of the original stone walls and towers. For travellers who like the less discovered and off the beaten track itineraries, this area of central Italy on the border of Umbria, will offer splendid scenery, tranquil roads without a single tour bus, rolling olive clad hills dotted with tiny medieval hilltop villages, and small hidden treasures to discover and savour, as well as being in easy driving distance of many of Italys famous art cities, Orvieto Todi Viterbo Spoleto and Assisi. Rome itself is only an hour away, by car or train.

The virgin hilltowns like Casperia preserve traditions, there is a local brass band which appears on every special Saint's day, popular festivals include the "sagra dei stringozzi" (a rustic pasta), held in august, "andare per olio" (tasting the new olive oil) in November, the medieval and the polenta festival. During these festivities, which all the locals attend, tables are set outdoors and everybody joins in; after lots of local wine the evening ends with fireworks.

Dusk in Casperia, on the way to La Torretta bed and breakfast. From Rome take the A1 motorway in the direction of Florence, and exit at Ponzano Soratte. You will find yourself crossing the historical river Tiber and leaving the modern world behind, you are in Sabina, where  the scenery hasn't much changed in the last 1000 years, the olive clad hills, and medieval stone villages, Abbeys and castles, the total lack of souvenir shops or tour buses, a treat for the frequent traveller.